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I think a gift is much more personal if it includes a handmade gift tag. Daughter Debbie and I had fun creating these and now you can make them for your gifts.

We have precut assorted colors of card stock to 5 X 2”. This size fits the Banner Triple Punch and the 3 topper punches. In this image, you can see 2 of the topper punches I have. You can cut a different color slightly smaller piece of cs as I have done with the white here. The second color is 4 7/8 X 3 3/4 – 4” and is finished with an edging punch.

The Cookie Cutter gingerbread people are some of my favorites and they make such a cute tag! The stamps are available for several hats, hat trim, bow ties, and buttons. A small circular sentiment was added and the “To and From” message is on the back side of the tag.

I must admit that this is my favorite gift tag. It is from the Many Blessings stamp set. The images were stamped with Memento black and colored with Stampin’ Blends. The “MERRY Christmas” stamp is included in the set. I tried to choose the available Baker’s Twine to coordinate with some aspect of the card. The Baker’s Twine can also be colored with Stampin’ Blends. The “To and From” sentiment is on the back of these tags.

If you are into punch art, this is the tag for you! Santa faces are created from assorted punches, glimmer paper, and googley eyes. We trimmed this tag to make it a bit shorter. The Santa face could be moved lower and the “To and From” sentiment could be placed on the front or the back.

Snowmen also make cute gift tags. These are also punch art creations, but are a bit simpler to punch and make than the Santa faces. The Snowman smile is actually punched from small circle punches and/or balloon punches. The hat is formed from a small square punch and the word window punch.

If you want to make a fast tag or two – choose the reindeer. This is a very simple gift tag. Simply punch out the reindeer and star either in glimmer or metallic cs or a mixture of the two. A simple “To and From” punched and layered on coordinating glimmer cs and you are almost done. I added 3 strands of 6” copper cording to the left image and 2 strands of 8” Baker’sTwine to the right image.

I will admit I was “fooling” around with these 2 tags. The tree tag is pretty simple. The Washi tape was colored with the Shaded Spruce Stampin Blend to coordinate. The penguin tag has a very busy Washi Tape background. I took a basic tag and I punched the banner and topper. I then took a second basic tag, punched it to match and adhered the two together. This way the tag was neat and the messy Washi tape backing was hidden.

The snowflake tag is our final idea. These are retired wood or plastic snowflakes that are adhered to a double tag. The Wood Textures DSP is perfect for this wintry tag. It is backed with a regular cs tag to provide the weight to handle to heavier snowflakes. This is a very quick and easy tag! The “To and From” message is on the back.

These tags are ideas from Daughter Debbie and me. There are other punches that can be used and lots of paper. Try to think “out of the box” and see what you can come up with. Debbie went thru my miscellaneous drawer and pulled lots of embellishments you can use to make tags with, in addition to our ideas.

You can do all tags, all calendars, do all stained glass window cards – the choice is yours. I just ask that you let me know when you may be coming and if you wish to do the stained glass window cards – how many of which one. As a reminder, December Stamp Camp is being held on Thursday November 29th from 12 Noon to 7 PM, Friday November 30 from 2 – 7 PM, and Saturday December 1st from 9 AM – 4 PM. The cost is $12 and covers whatever you choose to make. Soda and water and some type of goodies will be provided for your enjoyment.

I have decided to take the month of January off from Stamp Camp. The craft room needs a major overhaul and I HATE the cold weather. So, our next Stamp Camp will be on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, February 7, 8 and 9. We will have a Valentine plus everyday theme. I will be putting out a 2019 calendar in January and will keep you advised of Stampin’Up specials. Your new Occasions Catalog and Stampin’Up Sale-A-Brations brochure will be arriving in December.

Hi Crafters! It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is over and Black Friday is upon us. Although I personally think the entire month of November has been Black Friday. Christmas means much more than getting and giving gifts. Sometimes the birth of Jesus is forgotten as the REAL meaning of Christmas.

I need to preface this card with the fact that this is not a Stampin’Up set. It is titled “Oh Holy Night” and is from Taylored Expressions. When I ordered our 2019 calendars, I saw the stained glass stamp set and the coordinating arch framelits dies and decided to purchase both. On the negative side, this stamp is very difficult to use and get even coverage. This may be because I was stamping on vellum. Thanks to the Stamparatus, I was able to stamp multiple times but even then, there were some areas that simply would not stamp well.

This card has a So Saffron card base with a Cherry Cobbler layer that was embossed with a retired starry embossing folder. The stained glass image was stamped on vellum and colored on the back with both Spectrum Noir and Stampin’ Blends. It is a must to color on the back to keep the StazOn ink from smearing.

After the window was colored, it was adhered to a piece of white cardstock. An arch was die cut from the front layer card stock before it was embossed. The colored window adhered to white cs was adhered to the back of the front layer and the layer was adhered to the card base. A gold metallic arch was formed using 2 framelits sizes. The top card has a wide arch and the Navy/Blackberry Bliss card has a thinner arch. Again, these are Taylored Expression dies – not Stampin’Up. Each arch that I die cut came out wrinkled. I “ironed” out the wrinkles by placing the die-cut arch on the bottom cutting pad, covering it with several thicknesses of scratch paper or card stock, adding the top cutting plate and running it thru the Big Shot several times. This method “irons” our those wrinkles. Die cut “Peace” was adhered to one card and a sentiment framed in gold was added to the card with the thinner arch.

The stained glass window cards are just 1 offering for December Stamp Camp. You can also choose to do calendars and/or tags. YOU will choose what you want to create. You can do all stained glass window cards, all calendars, all Christmas tags or a mixture of each. I would ask that you let me know if you wish to stained glass window cards and which ones. I need to insure there are adequate windows stamped with time to dry.

Remember – December Stamp Camp is an oxymoron as it is being held on November 29th from 12 Noon to 7 PM, November 30th from 2 to 7 PM, and December 1st from 9 am to 4 pm. You can come when it is convenient for you. The cost remains $12.00 for whatever you choose to make – a pretty good deal!!!! It is helpful if you let me know when you may be coming, and letting me know if you will be doing the stained glass window cards and how many of which one.

Stay tuned for 2019 calendars – the next blog post for December Stamp Camp. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Wishing you well is a sweet set that can be used for any occasion – used for Thanksgiving here. The Cajun Craze side panel features the new “Swirls & Curls” textured impressions embossing folder. A hint of Mango Melody peeks thru and also frames the art work. I used the Stamparatus for the Old Olive bouquet of greens and Cajun Craze flowers. This allowed me to stamp multiple times in the exact same spot to deepen the color. Additional flowers could be stamped, but I wanted a simple yet stylish card. Although hard to tell, the “Subtle” dynamic textured embossing folder was used on the art piece after stamping. This embossing folder gives the card stock a linen effect. The Cajun Craze bow was fussy cut and provides just the right touch to the bouquet. Finally, 3 rhinestones were colored with the Cajun Craze Stampin’ Write Marker and adhered in place. This Thanksgiving card could easily be done in red and green or other colors.

In fact, this set includes a simple wreath and “season’s greetings” sentiment stamp. For this card, Real Red and Shaded Spruce card stock is used with Call Me Clover ink. Although hard to see, a few of the raised “Swirls & Curls” have had Wink of Stella added. Wink was also used on the edges of the Shaded Spruce card stock and on the wreath and bow. The 1/8” circle punch was used to punch tiny red glimmer “berries” which were adhered on the wreath. More berries could be added if desired. Finally, 3 red rhinestones were adhered. The card stock sizes for this card are the same as the Thanksgiving view above. You can choose to do either card or even both but let me know your wishes.

The next 2 posts will feature the “Country Home” stamp set – perfect for Thanksgiving or a fall birthday. Daughter Debbie was on Scan’n’Cut duty today and she stamped and cut out the pitchers, watering cans and one of the flower bouquets. We will also be using a small piece of the Chicken Wire Elements, the Galvanized Metallic Paper, and the gorgeous new Tin Tile dynamic textured impressions embossing folder. The next post should come out on Saturday. Remember to check back!

Hi Crafters, I’m happy to be back. My sinus infection is clearing up and I see the Podiatrist on Friday for my broken foot. With the passing of my mom, 2 falls in California, being sick for the month and breaking my foot – it has not been a good month. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

Daughter Debbie tells me there are only 61 days until Christmas. I can’t believe it. I know many of you have all your Christmas cards done. I have yet to start mine. One of the Christmas cards we are doing for November Stamp Camp features the “ In The Woods Framelits Dies” and the gold foil-edged cards and envelopes. A background of gold foil highlights the wintry trees. The 3-D pine tree is 2 layers and the branches are decorated with metallic pearls. 3 additional pearls were added to cover an “oops.” “Softly Falling” provides snowy-embossed hills. Finally, a simple gold edged bow graces the branch trees. Wink of Stella glistens on the tree branches and is a must.

This beautiful card is one of 5 you can choose from. We have 19 of the gold-edged cards and envelopes left. November Stamp Camp will be held on November 1 from 1-7 pm, November 2 from 2-7 pm and November 3 from 9 am to 2 pm. Please note the Saturday hours of only 9-2. St. Francis is having a Mass for the repose of my mother’s soul at the Saturday late afternoon Mass. Also note that December Stamp Camp is an oxymoron as it is actually being held on November 29, November 30 and December 1. This is to allow for our yearly trip to Kohler Wisconsin with friends Norb went to school with.

If you plan on attending this Stamp Camp, it is helpful to let me know so I don’t overcut or undercut card stock. As always, all supplies and materials are provided. Soda and water are covered in the cost of $12.00 for 4 cards. Each additional card is $2.50. I hope to see you in November!

As you know, we do a Christmas Card at each Stamp Camp starting in August. For September, we are working with the Dashing Deer bundle – page 9 of your holiday mini catalog.

This Dashing Deer holiday card is done in Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler. Although a very simple yet elegant card, the use of embossing folders adds so much. The Swiss Dot (long retired) folder is used on the large circle, and the new Subtle Embossing Folder adds the linen texture to the front card layer. I used the Stamparatus to stamp the deer. Why? Because I knew I would have a crisp image and could re-stamp if needed. Dimensionals were used to pop up the background circle, and to elevate the deer. Cutting the mini dimensionals in half allowed for stability to be added to the legs and antlers. The die for the deer and the flowers make it so easy to produce this beautiful card.

The second sample is very similar to the first. However, rhinestones were used as flower centers above, and small pearls were used as flower centers here. In addition, Wink of Stella was added to the Cherry Cobbler scalloped circle as well as the flowers. Wink of Stella was also used carefully on the antlers. As ink is picked up by Wink of Stella, the process was a bit nerve-wracking. If you look closely, you will find one or two splotches where the brush left its mark.

There are 4 Thinlits of different deer as well as two nice floral corner Thinlits. This is a fun bundle to play with.

Out next blog post will be of the Fall Leaf Bouquet. Stay-tune as the goal is to post it shortly.

I love the woodsy effect of this card. Simply done in red, white and green with the woodsy Early Espresso, this is a card I would love to receive from a friend. Although I have used a retired hardwood embossing folder for the top layer, the current Seaside embossing folder or even the Pinewood Planks folder would work well. The wreath is die cut from the large Swirly Scribbles Thinlits circle. Two circles are cut and overlaid to give contrast and depth. The top of the wreath features several pine boughs and berry branches die cut from the Pretty Pines Thinlits. A simple red satin bow ties the boughs together and 2 little red birds – one red metallic and one red glimmer – perch on the finished wreath.

Swirly Scribbles Christmas can be done on a Real Red or Call Me Clover layer as we see here. These little birds are die cut in gold – 1 metallic and one gold glimmer. The birds can also be die cut in silver. The sentiment is one I found in my Christmas library of leftovers and as there were multiples, I decided to use it. However, other messages can be stamped using the banner stamp and die. The wreath leaves a lot of room for interpretation. Perhaps your wreath will look much different from mine!

As a reminder, August Stamp Camp is from 1-7 PM on Thursday August 2, from 2-7 PM on Friday August 3, and from 9AM to 4 PM on Saturday August 4. It is helpful if you can let me know when you might be coming.

My theme for Christmas in July seems to unintentionally be based around peace – something I’m sure we all wish there was more of in our world. This navy, white, silver and gold card is certainly peaceful. Our dove is from the new Serene Garden stamp set found on page 166 in the new catalog. The Garden Scene Framelits provide the die for the dove. We will be seeing more of this set in the future. The background DSP is from the gorgeous springtime foil DSP available during Sale-A-Brations. This DSP features leaves in both silver and gold. The dove is popped up on dimensionals on a silver background framed in navy and clutches a Garden Green “olive branch”.

The die for “peace” is retired and several years old. Somehow we continue to use it every year. In the first sample, peace has been “glittered” with Wink of Stella as has the “olive branch.” In this second sample, the dove was stamped in Smoky Slate instead of navy and “peace” remains the un-glittered cs.

This is an easy but elegant card. The cut-out work will be done for you – your job will be to simply put the pieces together.

As a reminder, the Christmas in July Stamp-A-Stack will be held on Thursday, July 19 from 11 am to 7 pm, and on Saturday, July 21 from 9 am to 4 pm. The cost, which includes your very own Wink of Stella to take home, is $14 for 4 cards, $21 for 8 cards, $30 for 12 cards, and $38 for 16 cards. I am asking for attendance acknowledgements now as I have out-of-town company in early July so I am doing the majority of my prep work now. I have 54 poinsettias stamped and cu,t and need to know how many more we will need – 10? 20? 30?

One additional Christmas card remains – Christmas reindeer. It will be posted shortly.